Administrators, teachers suspended for alcohol use

Hutchinson  Two administrators and two teachers at Hutchinson Middle School have been suspended without pay after admitting to consuming alcohol at a high school football game.

Principal Randy Norwood, assistant principal Kevin Graham, science teacher Bruce Bingham and physical education teacher Matt Berens were suspended until Nov. 11, according to a letter from the four sent home to parents and students Tuesday.

The four were seen consuming alcohol at the Hutchinson-Derby football game Oct. 10. They later admitted their guilt to Superintendent Wynona Winn.

District regulations prohibit public school employees from "using, distributing, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs on school grounds while attending or sponsoring school-sponsored activities."

The letter, signed by all four, ask for "continued support of Hutchinson Public Schools along with the Hutchinson M.S. 7 staff, students and administration."

Rick Kraus, technology projects director for the administrative center, will serve as interim principal. Shellie Griffiths, a social studies teacher at the school, will serve as the assistant principal. Substitute teachers will be assigned for Bingham, Berens and Griffiths. Norwood has been employed by Hutchinson USD 308 since 1980, Graham since 1983, Bingham since 1998 and Berens since 1997, a spokesman for the district said.